FAQs: Native Pollinators

Let me tell you 'bout the flies and the bees and the wasps and the moths...

What are Native Pollinators (NPs)?

Native pollinators include numerous species of bees, wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, bats and hummingbirds, native to any given environment, in this case, North America. These species are “wild,” meaning they are not domesticated or farmed. Honey bees are important pollinators of many crops and wild plants, but they are both domesticated and not native to North America.

Why are they important?

NPs are necessary for the reproduction of

nearly 75% of the world’s flowering plants.

more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species.

The annual economic value of insect-pollinated crops in the US was estimated at $20 billion in 2000, with native insects contributing at least $3 billion.

Are pollinators in trouble?

Yes. In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences detailed the decline of pollinators from habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation, as well as pesticide use in the Status of Pollinators in North America.

What is happening to honey bees?

The number of managed honey bee hives has declined by 50% since the 1950s. Each year, the U.S. beekeeping industry loses more than 30% of hives from a variety of problems, including diseases, pests, and Colony Collapse Disorder.

Can native pollinators take the place of honeybees?

Yes, to some extent. Recent research has revealed that native bees also make a significant contribution to crop pollination, in some cases providing all of the pollination required – when enough habitat is available.

This habitat is more important than ever as honey bee hives become more expensive and difficult to acquire.